Terminologická a textová kompetence v právním překladu: studie na francouzsko-českém materiálu

Abstract

In the present study, we tackle the problem of quality in legal translation, and reflect on the related translation competences, among which thematic competence (or legal literacy) plays a central role. A sample of 20 translations of a legal text from French into Czech is analysed first with respect to overall quality. Next, we present a more thorough analysis of 40 terminological items. The sample includes translations done by advanced students of translation and practising translators. The overall quality differs significantly between the two groups, but, surprisingly, legal training does not guarantee better overall quality in the group of professionals. However, after categorising the errors (shifts of meaning — terminology — style), it turns out that legal literacy has a positive impact on the ability to interpret and transfer legal meaning, which is a key subcompetence in legal translation. A detailed analysis of selected legal expressions targets the frequency and typology of errors, variability of translation equivalents, and categorisation of meaning shifts. The analysis offers empirically founded insights into translation procedures in the field of law, and brings indirect evidence of the current state of the translation market.